During pregnancy, you need to be careful of many things, as your body is much more fragile and sensitive, and you don’t want to do anything which could potentially cause you, or your baby, any damage. If you spray tan often, you may be wondering if this is safe while you’re pregnant, so here’s the answer to all your questions!
Is spray tan safe during pregnancy?
In general, getting a spray tan whilst you’re pregnant is safe, but there are some things you definitely need to be aware of and you should use your own judgment, too. There are other methods of sunless tanning which are safer and encouraged more during pregnancy, but there’s nothing to stop you from getting a spray tan if you’d like.
Spray tanners, and self-tanners, have a chemical found in them called dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which is not as dangerous as it sounds. Essentially, it is responsible for the tint which a spray tan or self-tanner adds to your skin when it develops.
The DHA absorbs into the top few layers of your skin during the few hours of development time after applying self-tanner or getting a spray tan. When these layers of skin are ‘shed’ by the body, due to cell turnover, this is when a spray tan fades.
There aren’t any negative side effects of DHA on your skin (unless you’re allergic), but scientists haven’t fully determined the safety or potential effects of DHA in the body. It is believed that inhaling the fumes produced during a spray tan, which contains DHA, can be damaging for the lungs of any person, but you must be particularly cautious of this when pregnant, as this could cause harm to the baby too. So, if you do decide to get a spray tan during pregnancy, it is extremely important that you avoid inhaling the fumes.
Another thing you should do is avoid swallowing the spray tan. This sounds a bit silly, but it’s still worth mentioning for some people! This is because of the same reasons as inhaling the fumes – scientists are not yet sure what some chemicals can do inside our bodies – and, also, why would you want to?
So, in short, there should be no problem with getting a spray tan, as long as you are safe and aware of these things. Remember, if you are feeling overwhelmed with information, or you would simply like professional one-to-one advice, you can always consult your doctor or another medical specialist, who will have the best judgment specific to you.
Is organic spray tan safer to use than non-organic ones during pregnancy?
Organic spray tans, and organic beauty in general, are becoming a popular trend within the industry as their natural ingredients are very eye-catching and reassuring. During pregnancy, you want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep both you and your baby healthy, so organic spray tan may have been an idea.
In perfect honesty, organic spray tan doesn’t make too much of a difference compared to its non-organic counterpart. The rules and regulations around whether a product is ‘organic’ are quite vague, and many companies manage to tiptoe their way around them. Your best option is to physically check the ingredient list yourself and decide whether this is ‘organic’ from your point of view.
In very few organic spray tans, there won’t be any DHA, so one benefit to using these spray tans is that you don’t have to worry about these side effects (however this doesn’t guarantee that there won’t be a similar ingredient with its own side effects).
If you are looking for an organic spray tan, Professional Airbrush Spray Tan solution by Body Botanicals is one to get you started.
- Long-lasting, natural-looking tan: Body Botanicals sunless tanning solution provides a natural-looking, sun-kissed tan that lasts for up to 7-10 days. Unlike other sunless tanning products, it won't leave your skin looking orange or streaky, making it perfect for those who want a natural-looking glow.
- Made with organic ingredients: Body Botanicals uses only the highest quality organic ingredients in their sunless tanning solution, ensuring that you're getting a product that's free from harmful chemicals and additives. This means that it's safe to use on all skin types, including those with sensitive skin.
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Is it safe to use spray tanners when breastfeeding?
Just like during pregnancy, spray tanners are safe to use during breastfeeding. Obviously, you should still avoid inhaling any fumes as this can be damaging to yourself, but there shouldn’t be any issues when getting a spray tan whilst breastfeeding.
However, one thing you should certainly keep in mind is that you must avoid having any of the spray tan products applied to the nipples or surrounding areas – basically, anywhere your baby may touch during breastfeeding. This is because, while the spray tan is not damaging to the body for external use, it must not be swallowed.
The chemicals can be harmful to your baby, so just avoid it in this place.
Another thing worth noting if you have a spray tan during this time is that you can still contact or visit your doctor or health specialist for any queries or for any advice. The upside to this is that it will be specific to you, and so you can trust the experts.
Should I use a different tanning method, and not spray tan?
There are alternative tanning methods to spray tan available, and you may decide that one of them is actually safer, or just better, for use during pregnancy. As well as safety, there are things such as convenience and ease-of-use to consider when choosing your preferred method during pregnancy.
Sunbathing
Whether you’re pregnant or not, sunbathing is always advised against. The UV rays emitted by the sun can cause long-term damaging effects to your skin cells and it’s not as efficient or convenient as self-tanning or spray tanning either. For these reasons, sunbathing is a no-no.
Self-tanner
Self-tanning lotions, mousses, or mists are the most popular self-tanner option, and one thing which makes them suitable for use during pregnancy is that they don’t contain any nasty fumes which can be dangerous to inhale. This aspect is good, but you should also keep in mind that you’ll probably have to have someone help you when you’re more heavily pregnant, as certain areas may become much harder to reach.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, a spray tan should be safe whilst you are pregnant, as long as you are sensible and make informed decisions. If you follow all of the advice outlined above, there should be no problems with using spray tan during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Of course, there are other, safer, methods for this time, but it all comes down to your personal judgment.
